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Friday, September 30, 2016

Colorado author, and Pikes Peak Writers member, Parker Blue
was recently invited by Pikes Peak Library District to talk about her Demon
Underground Series, an urban fantasy for young adults featuring
eighteen-year-old Val Shapiro and her telepathic hellhound, Fang. She is
featured as part of the Teen Booktalk series. SWEET!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Well, Amazon DOES have fun and games, and it can surely
bring you to your knees… with frustration. AM-A-ZON… (Insert dramatic music
here) Practically every published author knows that word and all the negative
connotations that go along with it. Often treated with disdain, most authors
neither understand this mysterious digital jungle nor do they care to. Did they
remove a perfectly good review simply because their spies suspected you KNOW
the reviewer? Did your book fail to launch like a rocket after all those
pre-orders? I’ve heard many more grumblings about this daunting book seller in
the not-so-hallowed halls of social media. It’s easy to become mired in mud and
lost under the canopy. Do not despair, dear author, for I bring good news! And
machetes. Let’s unpack these suckers and start clearing a path to success.

WHACK! IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!

Yes. Yes, it is. If Amazon doesn’t crack down on abusive
sellers who bend the rules by getting their friends or paid services to put up
favorable reviews for their book of questionable quality, then Amazon, in turn,
will stop making money, and so will you. As the world’s largest retailer of
e-books and e-book readers, that’s not a good thing for Amazon or for you. So
yes, you may have had a review or two removed, but you have to understand how
many books they are trying to quality control on a daily basis to keep their
credibility. The reason for keeping reviews honest is so that potential buyers can
have confidence in that five-star rating. The solution? It’s got two parts. 1)
Get more reviews. (That’s a whole other topic—so, let me know in the comments
if you’d like me to talk about that in the future or expound on any other
points here, because I’m just skipping stones off the surface of a very
expansive lake—yes, this jungle has a lake.) 2) Do not simply copy and paste
the URL for your book’s Amazon page to solicit reviews from your friends and
family. Amazon uses that to track where the review came from.

WHACK! AMAZON IS NOT A BOOKSTORE!

Amazon is a search engine. Just like Google, your Amazon
success has more to do with how you position your book with relevant keywords
than it does with how many times you tweeted about it or asked all your
Facebook friends to buy it. If you want your webpage to show up at the top of a
Google search, you have to know a thing or two about SEO (Search Engine
Optimization) or hire someone who does. The same goes for Amazon. Make sure
your book is in the right category and sub-category listing. Then, use targeted
keywords in your book blurb to attract Amazon’s search party. This is not the
ONLY way to get your book on that coveted first page of search results, but
it’s a good start. A super easy way to get those keywords is to search books in
your genre and see what appears in the first twenty listings. Check out their
copy and see what words they have in common. Also, when you start to fill out
the search box, Amazon makes suggestions, much like Google does. Pay attention.
Those suggestions are NOT random.

WHACK! AMAZON CAN BE TAMED!

Amazon uses a fairly simple algorithm to determine sales
rank. This could change at any moment, but for now, this is how it works. Did
you know that Amazon ranking favors long-term sales over short-term spikes?
Each sale or download counts for 1 point toward that day’s “score.” The tally
of today’s points are added to half of yesterday’s score, and so on. This means
that dips in your ranking that may seem arbitrary could actually be due to the
long term performance of competing books. So, what about that awesome promotion
you just ran that sold 500 copies in a few days? The ranking effect of a sales
spike will quickly fade as the promotion ends and your book sales drop back
down to “normal” numbers. That other book that only sold 150 copies will outrank
you again after a week or two, because their “normal” numbers, which are
usually above yours, remained steady (Again, please let me know if you’d like
to hear more about that in a future post.) But the take-away here is this: don’t
fret if your book launch doesn’t spike your initial ranking (Amazon counted
your pre-orders on the days they were made). Or, if your promotion didn’t
result in a longer run at the top. That’s actually a good thing. Slow and
steady progress will get you through the jungle more effectively than setting
fire to the underbrush.

WHACK! AMAZON CAN BE TRAINED!

I’d like to tip my pith helmet to Chris Fox (a YouTuber and
writer) for this next section. Be careful who you push your book to when you launch
it. Amazon needs to “learn” who your book appeals to so it can recommend it in
the “readers also bought” section of their product pages. Asking all your
friends and family to rally and buy your book may seem like a great strategy,
but you could be killing your book’s long term success as cook books and
romances show your military sci-fi book as an “also bought” recommendation.
It’s better to target your book sales to the kinds of readers who would buy
your book organically. Meaning, they didn’t buy it simply out of pity or to
show support. If targeted readers buy your book, then Amazon knows who to
market it to and will largely do the work for you! You can watch Chris Fox’s video
on this here à https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOxi8GhPWBE

WHACK! AMAZON IS NOT PERFECT!

Not perfect? Surprised? Probably not. Despite its flaws,
Amazon was, and continues to be, a game changer. There are few places
independent authors can sell their books to such a large audience. Amazon is
challenging to be sure, but it’s worth taking a whack at. Just be sure to bring
the “write” tools for the job.

About the Author: KL Cooper spends most of her free hours writing PNR, but when she’s not doing that, she’s rocking social media for Pikes Peak Writers or creating new graphics and book covers for other writers through UnderCover Press. You can connect with her anywhere on social media using these handles: @KLCequalsME @UnderCoverKLC @FleshandFeather

Monday, September 26, 2016

Reader’s advisory can be as
simple as directing a patron to the inspirational fiction section or offering a
list of newly released cozy mysteries, science fiction, or romantic suspense
novels. However, reading preferences don’t always follow genre lines.

People want to read a book that makes them feel passion, confused, free, happy terrified, surprised;

one that reminds them of home, that book I read
last summer, a close friend;

one that is not too long, short, fast, slow,
scary, boring;

or one that helps them escape from the world.

Take a minute to consider your
own reading preferences. Do you enjoy one genre, multiple genres, or mixed
genres? Can you identify with any of the statements above?

No one can write to please everyone.
However, as a librarian, I can assure you that every book pleases someone. That
is my job – to match people with the books, movies, classes, music, and
technology they need and want. When I review a book, I always keep in mind the
intended or unintended audience. The same is true when I recommend a title. I
don’t reach for my favorite book; instead, I ask questions to learn more about
the patron’s reading style. Does she enjoy short chapters she can finish on a 15-minute
break or has she always loved family sagas filled with conflict?

Looking beyond the variety in
reader preferences, there are countless ways to find that next good book. Someone
might click on a suggested book while using his tablet or pull a new release
from a book display. A reader’s next book may be a group read for a book club
or one recommended by a friend.

Librarians are excellent
sources for book suggestions. Not only do they recommend titles familiar to
them, they also enlist the aid of colleagues who enjoy the same subjects or
genres the patron does. Colorado libraries also offer access to the NoveList database, which provides
recommendations based on books a reader enjoyed in the past. The database is free
to patrons and can be searched by plot, genre, and all those tricky preferences
such as fast-paced, suspenseful, plot-driven, or romantic.

Consider again your list of
reading preferences and those of your friends and colleagues. Do you agree that
the audience for your own written work is broader than genre? How can you
leverage audience preferences to put your book in the reader’s hands?

To start, a search in NoveList for your novel or books
written in a similar style may answer questions you have about your audience. The
database provides subjects, genres, tones, and pace for many titles. (To access NoveList, go to your local library
website and look for a research, databases, or read link. The website will
prompt you for your library card number. Don’t have one? You can access the
database from a library without a card.)

Some of these same details are
available on Goodreads www.goodreads.com. What
lists have similar books been added to? Should your book be on these lists as
well? Browsing the Goodreads Listopia www.goodreads.com/list, I
found lists as varied as Top Fast-Paced
Mysteries, Best Second Chance Romance,
and Books Set in Iceland and Greenland.

Don’t stop there! Search for
similar lists using a search engine and ask the author of each online list you
find to add your book. Check libraries to find out if they purchase books by
local authors or if they have a booklist for patrons interested in local
authors.

In addition to lists and online sources, librarians, booksellers, reviewers, bloggers, and friends can all introduce your book to the public through reader’s advisory. Your networking opportunities are endless if you are willing to think like a reader.

About the Author: Summer Greenwood is a Library Specialist with the Arapahoe Library District, residing with her husband in the Denver Metro area. She loves writing fantasy fiction, participating in reading challenges, and spending time with her two dogs, Shadow and Savannah, and her Ragdoll cat, Pepper.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

“The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best and therefore never scrutinize or question.” Stephen Jay Gould

Source: Wikipedia, Brainy Quotes

Stephen Jay GouldSep 10, 1941 – May 20, 2002, author of Dinosaur in a Haystack, was an American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and historian of science.

Gould's most significant contribution to evolutionary biology was the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which he developed with Niles Eldredge in 1972.

Gould was known by the general public mainly from his 300 popular essays in the magazine Natural History written both for the specialist and non-specialist. In April 2000, the US Library of Congress named him a “Living Legend.”

Friday, September 23, 2016

Donnell Ann Bell’s romantic suspense novel, Deadly Recall, was released by BelleBooks on June 29, 2016 as an audio book on Audible.com (ISBN ASIN: B01HP1B69K, listening length 9 hours, 5 minutes). It has already ranked well at Amazon:

A terrifying memory is locked deep inside her. A killer wants to keep it that way.

Nine-year-old Eden Moran thought she was saying good-bye to her mentor that fateful day in St. Patrick’s. She had no idea she’d witness the nun’s demise, or that her child’s mind would compensate. Now seventeen yearslater, Albuquerque cops have unearthed humanremains, and the evidence points to Eden as being the key to solving Sister Beatrice’s murder. When a hell-bent cop applies pressure, Eden stands firm. She doesn’t remember the woman. Unfortunately for Eden, Sister Beatrice’s killer will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.

Donnell Ann Bell isthe managing editor for Writing from the Peak,the coordinator for the monthly Open Critique held on the first Wednesday of every month, and one of Pikes Peak Writer's board members at large. She is a best-selling romantic suspense and mystery author. To learn more about her books, find her at www.donnellannbell.comE-mail: bellson@comcast.net

What I take away from today’s tips is that we must adjust
our work stations to suit our bodies, and not the other way around. As much as
is possible in your situation, make your work environment ergonomically
correct. Don’t let preventable aches and pains end your writing sessions early.
The better you feel physically, the longer you’ll be able to write!

Prevent Eye Fatigue

Colorado is a dry climate. Dry eyes and eye fatigue are
common. Mary’s tips will help you keep your eyes happy.

The
20-20-20 Rule:

Evert
20 minutes take 20 seconds and focus on something 20 feet away

Closed
Eye Rolls: Close eyes, roll eyes in different directions- up, down, side
to side, circles

Make
sure your font is big enough for your viewing comfort

Dry
air? Consider moisturizing drops

Avoid
reading or doing crossword puzzles on breaks

Safe Keyboard Use

I have a tendency to stick my elbows out while typing, not
unlike a chicken attempting to take flight. When I follow Mary’s next tips, I
have less fatigue in my shoulders and upper back.

Keep
elbows close to sides

Avoid
repetitively or constantly bending wrist to the little finger side of the
hand. People with broad shoulders or torsos may benefit from an ergonomic
keyboard

Use
the lightest keystroke possible

When
not actively typing, rest your hands

Safe Mouse Use

That little critter next to your keyboard can be
problematic. It’s not so much about your hand, as the position the mouse puts
your wrist into, and where you place the mouse on your desk.

Consider
a mouse that allows your hand to drape rather than hover (no gap should be
between the mouse and your palm)

A
mouse that turns your thumb slightly upward prevents wrist contact
pressure with the desk and rotates your arm in a more neutral position

Desk Surfaces

The next section some of you won’t like. I often claim I need
the clutter, and that I know where everything is if people will just leave my
stacks of junk alone. I have to admit, being organized has its advantages. Not
only does a clean and tidy desk prevent fruitless searching for misplaced
items, but it also has ergonomic benefits.

Make
enough space for adequate keyboard/mouse space, wrist rests and forearm
support

Avoid
contact pressure from resting wrists on desk edges- move your keyboard
back or get a wrist rest (note: your body tolerates contact pressure
better on the forearms than at your wrists)

Desktop Organization

Keep
frequently used items within reach

Avoid
frequently reading hard copy that is laying flat on the desktop to prevent
neck bending and twisting

If a copy stand is used, place it in a location that is
close to the monitor(s)

If a keyboard tray is used, don't place the mouse on the
desktop if it requires reaching forward or to the side

Monitor Positioning

No matter what type of monitor or desk you use, you should
be able to make the following adjustments to encourage proper posture.

The
monitor(s) should be centered in front

Monitors
should be approximately fingertip distance away when reaching forward

The
top of the monitor screen should be approximately even with eye level

For
those people who wear multi focal or progressive lenses, the monitor
should be lowered to prevent tipping the head back (consider task specific
computer glasses)

Position Change

Now that you’ve gotten everything adjusted correctly, you
need to cement all the settings, right? Wrong! Changing position relieves
fatigue and prevents aches and pains.

The
best position is a new position– change positions frequently

Tweak
your positions slightly throughout the day:

Move
keyboard closer or farther away

Move
wrist rest closer or farther from keyboard or mouse

Slightly
change the tilt on the chair back

Move
the copy stand to the other side of the monitor

Take
micro breaks: Find reasons to stand up and move regularly

Non Traditional Work
Settings

So you get your home work station adjusted correctly. That’s
great, but what about when you work elsewhere? While traveling, at a coffee
shop, or on a cushy chair in a sunny window?

Regular
long durations of laptop use are not recommended. Minimize sofa and coffee
shop time

When
working on the sofa, place a pillow behind your lower back for support

Pause
frequently to stretch in the opposite direction of the position you’ve
been maintaining (neck, back, hips, shoulders, hands)

Try to
create some forearm support on the tabletop or with pillows

When
at home, use a separate monitor and keyboard or a stand for the laptop and
a separate keyboard (these are very portable and can be brought to a
coffee shop)

Thanks to Mary Plehal, professional ergonomist, we’ve learned
about avoiding eye strain, and how to set up a work station correctly to minimize
wrist fatigue. Join me next month for a continuation of the series. What
happens when you do feel aches and pains? Stretching, the topic of next month’s
ergonomic article, can help. Additional thanks goes to Mary Plehal for her professional advice and
illustrations for Ergonomics for Writers!

About the Author: Catherine’s fifth published short story appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine’s May 2016 issue. The second novel in her amateur sleuth murder mystery series, Stone Cold Case – A Rock Shop Mystery, is available on-line via Barnes & Noble and Amazon, and in e-book for Kindle. She anticipates a fall release for book three. With a day job as an environmental regulatory technician, her stories often have environmental or factory-based themes. Others reflect her love of the Colorado mountains, fishing, and running.

Monday, September 19, 2016

While
at my critique group meetings, I tend to get upset and defensive despite being
a ten-year critique group veteran. This is a new turn for me as I used to take
the feedback in stride. A day or two after the meeting, I re-think my responses
and ponder the feedback only to realize my wonderful critique partners are
right. How do I correct my attitude during the meetings?

Signed,

Bad
Attitude in Monument, CO

Dear
Bad Attitude:

You’re
experiencing a common human response. Inherent in your question lies a hint of
the solution. When tempted to respond by defending or explaining your author
intent, remember the confession that you just shared: later you realize that
the criticisms were just. Take a deep breath and bite your tongue, remembering
this point.

If
you’re a member of a group that consistently gives appropriate and constructive
criticism, remind yourself of your good fortune. Not all groups have the
experience to give such excellent guidance. Many writers are desperate to find
a competent group like yours.

Lastly,
your years of experience may be part of the problem. Are you expecting fewer
criticisms at this point in your writing career?

When
your work becomes cleaner, the evaluation is likely to become finer tuned. I’m
sure you notice that each revision brings your WIP to a higher level of
competence. Each edit builds on the last making the writing more tight, more
exact, more refined. Perhaps you’re receiving just as many comments as you did
when you first began to write, but your critique partners are now judging your
writing with higher expectations in mind.

~ Annie

Dear Annie:

I’m
totally lost when confronted with the project of creating an author platform.
It’s such an important requirement today. Where can I find help?

Signed,

Techno Challenged

Dear Techno Challenged:

Sounds as though you unfortunately
missed the August Write Brain. That’s a shame because Cindi Madsen presented an
in-depth look at this daunting project. She provided a wealth of interesting
and helpful web sites, explained the necessity of creating advertisements
geared to your audience, and suggested pre-order campaigns and give-aways. She
also pointed to the advantage of creating a newsletter. Ask your friends who
might have attended to lend you their notes.

In addition, see the Pikes Peak
blog, Writing From the Peak. The August 15th article by K.L. Cooper,
“How Pinteresting,” will also be of significant help. Just use the search bar
on the right of the blog to look up this article in the archives.

Several comprehensive courses on
the subject of building your internet presence can also be found online.

~ Annie

Dear Annie:

Please
explain what is meant by the three-act structure. I’ve heard just enough to
confuse me. I understand the concept of a climax and denouement. But what I
hear today uses new terms and seems more complicated.

Signed,

Wanting Clarity

Dear Wanting Clarity:

Many
theories exist on the use of the three-act structure. A simple explanation is
the following: act one is a set up for an eventual inciting incident which
propels us into act two. Act two is the longest act and presents the main
confrontation central to the theme. Generally, there is a plot twist mid act,
then a crisis near the end of act two. This critical event ushers the reader
into act three and the resolution or denouement.

I
recommend Blake Snyder’s book, Save the Cat! for a thorough, clear, and
concise explanation. An older book on the subject that is still a pertinent
classic is Sid Field’s Screenplay. In both cases, you’ll need to adjust
the pages outlined for each act or plot point to be proportional for a novel;
but the outline and process are the same.

~ Annie

Dear Annie:

How can
I create enough conflict to satisfy contemporary readers without contributing
to the excessive violence that characterizes our society today?

Signed,

God-fearing
Pacifist

Dear Pacifist:

Conflict
goes way beyond physical violence. There can be emotional, philosophical, or
competitive conflicts within an individual or between two or more persons or
groups of people. Identify the goal your character has chosen. What does he
want? Conflict is anything that stands in his way.

If your
character wants to become president of the United States, his conflicts are
likely to involve negative advertising, inaccurate media coverage, ridicule
from the opposing party or even his own self-doubts. A potential assassin in
the crowd would rank right up there, too.

Consider
the difference between violence for its own sake and violence executed by that
assassin in the crowd. If the murderous use of arms fits the circumstances in
your story, it will be more readily accepted even by a peace-loving reader.~ Annie Have a question for me? Write to me at annshill@q.com with your suggestions. I will answer serious questions, and maybe some funny ones, to the best of my ability. Your writing is of utmost importance to mee because it is important to you.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

~ Ms. Annie

About the Author: Dear Annie is the pseudonym for Ann S. Hill. After hearing the call to write in her thirties, Ann set the ambition aside while life happened. Now that she has retired from her career as a dentist and her children are adults, she is seriously attacking that parked ambition. She spends significant time on her true passion and has recently completed her second novel. Her first novel, Wait for Me, was a finalist in the Zebulon, Pikes Peak Writers Contest. She has written several short stories. In the meantime, she remains a voracious reader and film aficionado.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

"My relatives used to
laugh when I talked of being a writer." ~ Taylor Caldwell

Source: Wikipedia & Brainy Quotes

Taylor Caldwell(Sep. 7, 1900 – Aug. 30,
1985) was an American novelist and prolific author of popular fiction, also
known by the pen names Marcus Holland and Max Reiner, and by her married name
of J. Miriam Reback.

In
her fiction, she often used real historical events or persons. Taylor
Caldwell's best-known works include Dynasty of Death,Dear and Glorious Physician(aboutSaint Luke),Ceremony of the Innocent,Pillar of Iron,The Earth is the Lord's(aboutGenghis Khan) andCaptains and the Kings. Her
last major novel, Answer As a Man, appeared in 1980.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Darby Karchut’s middle grade fantasy
FINN’S CHOICE (ISBN: 9781633920705; 230 pages; trade paperback) released
September 20 from Spencer Hill Press. It is
available at AmazonBarnes & Noble ,
and indie bookstores worldwide. This is the fourth and final book in the
Adventures of Finn MacCullen series. School Library Journal called the
first book in the series, FINN FINNEGAN, “...a great choice for adventure-loving
readers who prefer their battle scenes with a hefty dose of ancient weaponry,
ground-fighting skills, and just a touch of magic."

Just
when Finn MacCullen thought fate couldn’t kick him any harder after the events
of the Festival of the Hunt, it does. Now, he must overcome a series of nearly
impossible trials to prove his worth as an apprentice, or lose his place at his
master Gideon’s side. However, Finn’s life has as many twists as a Celtic knot,
and master and apprentice find themselves in their ancestral homeland of
Ireland with only their wits—and a fair bit of the Black Hand’s charm—to
protect them from a vengeful Celtic goddess. It’s going to take every scrap of
Finn’s Irish luck and pluck to save himself, and his master, from death. Or
worse.

Darby Karchut is an award-winning
author, dreamer, and compulsive dawn greeter. A native of New Mexico, she
now lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where she runs in blizzards
and bikes in lightning storms. When not dodging death by Colorado, Darby is
busy writing for children, teens, and adults. Best thing ever: her YA series,
GRIFFIN RISING, has been optioned for film. She is represented by Amanda Rutter
at Red Sofa Literary.
Visit Darby at www.darbykarchut.com.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Hi! My name is Jason Evans and
this is the premiere of my Pikes Peak blog on historical fiction. I am really
excited to share my experiences, my passion, and my so-called, “expertise,” on
the subject with the members of the Pikes Peak Writers community. Before I
begin, I want to thank Donnell Bell for offering me this opportunity to reach
out to you, the members of Pikes Peak Writers.

So before we get started, allow
me to stand on my soapbox.

I strongly believe in “Literary
Citizenship.” It’s a term I coined a couple of years ago. Basically, it means
we are all members of a strong and diverse community of writers in Colorado
Springs, the Rocky Mountain Region, and across North America and the world. As
a member of this community, we have to constantly earn our place through
service. But it doesn’t end there.

To keep our place, we have to
continue to be of service to our fellow writers. The good news is that service
renews our hope and revitalizes our art, and anybody can serve.

It could be telling a friend about
a great craft book we’ve discovered, or writing a review for a friend’s
published book on Amazon. It could be as simple as celebrating our peers during
their successes. (This may also mean swallowing our jealousy – hard!) If you’ve
been in the writing game for a while it may be volunteering at the Pikes Peak
Writers Conference by leading a panel or seminar. It could also mean mentoring
someone new to the craft. I myself have been humbled by the support I’ve
received from pros like Aaron Michael Ritchey, author of the Never Prayer and
Dandelion Iron. Or, my dear friend Mary Wine, author of Highland Heat and
Highland Spitfire.

The point is, wherever you are in
the writing process, whether you’ve published a book, or struggling with your
opening line, you too can help others along the way. There is room enough for
everyone and this is not a competition.

I get the impression that
historical fiction scares a lot of people. That the idea of writing a
compelling story, (whether it’s a novel, a novella, or a short story,) somehow
should be the province of the professional historian, or at least the master of
historical trivia.

I also get the impression that
some people believe that you can’t write historical fiction with diverse
characters. Whether those characters be women, minorities, transgendered or gay,
nothing could be further from the truth.

Let’s take two popular eras for
book writers, for example: Regency and Tudor England.

The formal English Regency, when
Parliament declared George III unfit to rule, occurred from 1811-1820, when
George III died. However, many artists, architects and historians use the term loosely
to refer to period from 1795-1837.

Regardless of how you define it,
this was a tumultuous period in British history. Want strong women? How about
the Quaker reformer Elisabeth Fry, who worked tirelessly to make British
prisons more humane for both men and women. Growing up in a family of bankers
and politicians, she used her
influence to wage a nonstop battle against corruption and the abuse of women
for more than 30 years.

Or how about the Irishwoman
Elizabeth Conyngham, an Irish noblewoman by marriage and mistress of King
George IV. Born into a wealthy Irish banking family, she climbed the social
ladder using her looks to her advantage until she gained the attention of the
prince-regent. Weak women don’t manipulate kings like this woman manipulated
King George IV.

Intrigue and social reform not
cool enough for you? OK. Remember this, the American War of 1812 and the
Napoleonic Wars occurred during the English Regency. Native American tribes
fought on both sides of the War of 1812. Tribes like the Shawnee, the
Winnebago, Delaware and Miami fought for the British. And, the largest
emancipation of African slaves in North America, before the Civil War, occurred
when the British freed and enlisted 4,000 slaves. Many of these former slaves
chose careers in the British armed services as sailors and soldiers, earning
ranks as high as sergeant. (Officer ranks were reserved, mostly, for the
British nobility.)

During the Napoleonic Wars,
revolution ravaged Latin America, too. In Latin America many of those who
supported revolution from Spain were Mestizo
or Creole with Native American
and European heritage – although this was not always the case. Again though, we
have the potential for diverse characters!

Let’s also remember that during
this period, women controlled noble titles, estates, farms & businesses
while their men fought on both sides. Let’s also remember that women worked as
spies, as did men of all heritage. And, while I personally have never researched
the appearance of transgendered or gay historical persons from the English
Regency, that doesn’t mean they weren’t there.

The Tudor period, on the face of
it, seems like it would be a much more homogenous time in European history.
Diverse people lived all throughout the British Isles during this period, too.
But let’s define our terms, shall we?

The Tudor period was 1485, when
Henry 7th killed Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, to
1603, when Queen Elizabeth I died, ending the Tudor line of monarchs. While
this was a much more peaceful period, it was still a time of cultural and
ethnic interaction and appropriation.

For example:

Pocahontas visited England and
actually had an audience with Queen Elizabeth I.

Sailors and artisans from Spain
routinely settled in England for business reasons before and during the
Anglo-Spanish War. Some of these were of Arab and African descent.

Visitors from the Ottoman Empire
visited England during Elizabeth’s reign in an attempt to build an alliance against
Philip II’s Spain.

Onyeka Nubia published Blackamoores: Africans in Tudor England,
their Presence, Status and Origins, in 2013. He
argues that Africans existed in small numbers in Elizabethan England as
artisans and craftsman. That the evidence shows they married into English
families and were a part of English culture, however small.

So let’s review:
Arabs, Africans, Native Americans and Turks. I see diversity of characters
here!

Did I mention the
Irish pirate Grace O’Malley, scourge of the Irish Sea?

Not convinced?

Look at these three
medieval paintings. In each one, a woman is participating in a traditional male
craft. One is butchering – a man’s job.

Not convinced? Look at
the woman sculpting a statue with a hammer and chisel.

Still not convinced?
Look at the woman in the back of the third painting, she working as a BLACKSMITH!

Diverse people and
strong women lived in all periods of western history, you just have to look for
them.

So what do you do with
the information? WRITE YOUR STORY! Write strong women characters. Write
characters who are Black, Arab, and Latin Americans. Write gay and
transgendered characters.

Now, this is not
license to ignore the historical record. No African prince proposed to Queen
Elizabeth I. No Muslim-Arab became Duke of Somerset. Women were still
brutalized and oppressed in many situations. Homosexuals and transgendered were
sent to prison or murdered when discovered. But the evidence points to their
existence in both the English Regency and Tudor England.

Tell the awful,
horrible truth, in your historical fiction. People of diverse origins lived,
worked, and thrived in the past. Sometimes they struggled and were treated
unfairly, but they were there.

About the Author: Jason Evans always wanted to be a writer, he just didn't know
it. He grew up in Pasadena, California, in the 1980s where he watched way too
much television, but was introduced to literature by his grandfather and his
favorite middle school and high school teachers. He wasted his youth working at
the So Cal Renaissance Faire (a dangerous place because it’s the gateway drug
to other historical costumes,). In his leisure time he’s an educator, a writer,
and a bon vivant. He is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, with degrees in History
& Renaissance Studies, a teaching credentials from CSU Los Angeles, as well
as a graduate degree from the University of Colorado, Denver. He currently
resides in Denver with his wife, the fetching Mrs. Evans, their three dogs and
a mischievous cat who calls him his thrall.

Pikes Peak Writers

Welcome to the official blog of Pikes Peak Writers. We aim to inform, educate, enrich, and entertain writers. NOTE: The posts appearing on this blog may not be reposted or reprinted without the express permission of the author and Pikes Peak Writers.